The National tribune., 1887-09-15
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
NEW WELCOME OATS.

to give my experience. Last Spring i sowed
one acre Of very rich clay ground at the rate OF
two bushels to the acre Idrilled them in about
one aud a half inches deep, and when up they
grew vigorously, with dark green leaf, easily
distinguished from the common oats, in their
growth averaging four to five feet over the
ground. The stalks. although strong and stiff
are pleasant to handle; they stand up well.
The drouth set in just at the time of filling
and injured the oat crop. / got only about
two-thirds of crop. / thrashed the oats and
got 81 bushels to an acre, which was very
poor crop. They ripen 10 to IL days earlier
and weigh from 16 to Is pounds more to the
bushel than the common oats would like to
hear from those who started last Spring. My
offer is still open. To those wishing start
two-cent stamps in letter to pay postage,
packing, etc, will send them two large pack
ages.-W. L. FEoss, Donnelsville, o.
SWAMP MUCK.
A supply Of swamp muck is worth large
sum of money to farmer who knows how to
turn it TO account. There is some misapprehen-
sion in regard TO the value of this decayed
vegetable matter, perhaps, because of the great
variation in character and quality. Pure peat
is mostly organic matter, with a varying guam
tity of nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid in
it. There are many deposits called swamp
muck which are largely composed of earthly
matter, and as this material is of little fertiliz
ing valuc,-it has brought the more useful kind
into discredit Pure peat leaves about per
cent. only of a light white ash; when air-dried
it contains about l6 per cent. of water; the re-
mainder is chiefly carbonaceous matter, with
some nitrogen, varying from / to per cent.
This last is the most valuable part of the peat,
and when developed into an actual potential
condition is worth 10 cents per pound, or can
be made so by the ordinary process of compost
ing with stable manure or lime, and this is now
n seasonable work of the farm.
The reasonable value of bed of peat is thus
much larger than is supposed, and now, when
the swamps are drier than at any other season
of the year, the muck may be dug and heaped
20 dry in readiness for uso in the Winter.
There is no better stable litter than dried peat;
it Will hold more than its weight Of water, and
its pOrosity encourages oxidation so freely that
il exerts strongly deodorizing action, and
quickly reduces the volatile odors of the stable
TO fixed state. Dry peat is largely used in
private and business stables in the large cities
upon this account, and il is reflection upon
the common-sense aud shrewdness of farmers
that they have so long neglected the use of this
valuable litter and absorbent, while other per-
sons have paid rs much as s. q ton for it; and
further. that they have been paying out hun
dreds of dollars for fertilizers, while they have
thousands of tons of muck to be had for the
digging. every ton of which contains 90 to 60
pounds OF nitrogen, needing only to be devel-
Oped by time and good management.-NetV
York Weekly Times.
YOUNG TURKEYS
There is moro unnecessary trouble taken in
the rearing of young turkeys than with any
other farm stock. One is constantly advised
TO give them hard boiled eggs. cooked corn
meal, old bread soaked in sour milk, milk
curds. and other messes made up with much
trouble and fuSsing. Then there are complaints
of sickness; the young turkeys drop off and
die from various disorders, and advice is sought
TO remedy these troubles. No one seems to
think that these diseases have any connection
with the examining aud coddling processes
thought needful for the young poults, but be-
yond question theoverieeding is at the bottom Of
the trouble. Young poultry of any kind require
very little food. but need it often, and sour
food is fatal to them. Milk curd is not digesti-
BILE and is soft, and soft food is not healthful
for any birds which are naturally provided
with gizzard for grinding hard food. The
best food for young poultry, so far as the
writer's experience has proved, is coarsely-
ground or crushed wheat, or buckwheat and
corn mixed, oatmeal, and, in small qualities,
fresh meat chopped small. These supply all
that they require under ordinary and natural
conditions, and if not given to excess will en-
courage healthful and thrifty growth.
NOTES.
1t is mistake to suppose that sour, fer
mented slop for hogs is better than fresh mix
ture that is sweet and clean.
Ia off fad n trv hn
if too much be given il will cause the feathers
to fall of, as IL promotes early moulting.
Although it is supposed that the hog eats
anything, yet it rejects many grasses and weeds
that are readily eaten by sheep and cattle.
When the leaves OF plants assume yellow
tinge the application of so pounds nitrate Of
soda (saltpeter) will often cause them to again
become green and thrifty.
If In very fat condition the chances are
that the hen will show an inclination to sit.
Even the so-called nOn-sitters on becoming fat
will attempt TO hatch brood.
Animals are subject to sunstroke as well
as human beings if compelled toendure excess
i've heat. The pasture should always contain q
few shade trees, and also running water.
The free use of insect powder in the stables
will greatly lessen the annoyance TO stock from
flies, but the stalls and floors should be kept
clean. busting the legs of horses with carbo-
late of lime will aid in preventing attacks from
insects.
- The dairy cow may be regarded as a ma
chine for Transforming the food which she re-
ceives into milk, butter and cheese. She ha:
no power, however, TO produce something out
| of nothing. The best she can do is to perform
| her work economically.
- Farmers will find it to their advantage Il
corn mutton in a weak brine for homo con
| sumption. The hams can be boiled. The corned
mutton will be found an agreeable change
| from sausage and spareribs.
| Tomato vines will endure quite an amount
OF cutting and trimming and often renew
themselves when nearly dead. If the branche:
| be too thick IL will be of advantage to cut some
of them out from a few vines where limited
amount of early fruit shall be desired.
| Hogs kept in confinement eat charcoal o,
| even bituminous coal with relish, and they are
also fond of rotten wood, these substances seem
ing to furnish desired, if not necessary, CON
diment or appetizer. Charred corn once q
week is a welcome variation in the fare OF the
| swine.
Insects must not be forgotten. Place piece.
of old carpet, bagging or other coarse fabric
around the trunks of apple trees. Remove
them every 10 days and crush the larva O.
cocoons OF the apple worm which have hidder
under them. Look for the borer in the peacl
trees, and with knife and wire probe it out.
-Prominent poultrymen grow large crol
| ofcabbage for Winter use. In the cold season
the cabbage is either chopped fine and fed /,
| the hens or tied to small stakes so that they
can pick the heads at will. There is no grea
amount of nutrition in cabbage, but it serve
as a change from grain to green and bulk,
food. Every poultryman should lay by few
for the hens.